Career horoscopes: March 11 - March 17

Christopher Renstrom is the creator of Rulingplanets.com which is his idea of an on-line, subscription-based, interactive Astrology Magazine. It is based on his bestselling book Ruling Planets, which was published by HarperCollins in 200...

The fine line

There’s a difference between competitive and combative, and you will want to make certain not to cross that line on March 12. Winning a prize fair and square is the mark of a true champion, whereas throwing your weight around or bullying people may get you what you want in the moment, but there will be hell to pay later. Be a good sport and you will never have to be a sore loser.

Career horoscopes

ARIES (March 20-April 18)

Mars in Aries will make you aggressive and assertive. This is exactly what you need to get ahead. But remember that Mars, named after the Roman god of war, tends to adopt a scorched earth, take no prisoners approach to advancing its interests, so make a point of dialing down the intensity on March 22, 27, and 28. You want to be successful, but it shouldn’t come at other people’s expense.

TAURUS (April 19-May 19)

Beware self-sabotaging tendencies on Monday. This is when volatile planetary energies could lead you to act out. You know that you have your reasons for being angry, but your boss doesn’t. In fact this person just realized that you exist, which is why she or he wants to give you a raise or promotion. Don’t let pent up frustration spoil your moment to shine on the 14th.

GEMINI (May 20-June 19)

Mark March 11 down on your calendar because a receipt or bill of sale made on this day will prove instrumental in resolving a dispute on April 8. You will have nothing to worry about if paperwork is done properly. If not? Then this could turn into an enormous headache. If there was ever a time to be up to date with your bookkeeping, then it would be now.

CANCER (June 20-July 21)

You know that you could do a lot more if you were given the chance, but do you also see how hugging the shadows might give higher-ups the impression that you aren’t ready? Thankfully Mars crossing the highest point of your solar horoscope will change all of that. Not only will it spur you on to greater heights over the next 5 weeks, but it will also push you to trumpet your accomplishments instead of muffling them.

LEO (July 22-Aug. 21)

Don't let your fixation on someone getting their comeuppance distract you from the things that really matter on the 13th. Yes, this person did you wrong and you have every right to be angry, but is it really worth jeopardizing a big sale or lucrative deal? It may feel awkward letting bygones be bygones and shaking hands with the enemy, but the best revenge is success.

VIRGO (Aug. 22-Sept. 21)

It’s taken weeks to return that phone call, but you’ll be glad you did on Thursday. This is when you will learn that there’s more to a query than you were led to believe, and that you were a heartbeat away from losing out on a very golden opportunity. Thankfully, Virgos are adept at last-minute saves and damage control. Mercury out of retrograde on March 17 gives you the cosmic thumbs-up on profitable ventures.

LIBRA (Sept. 22-Oct. 21)

Not the week to get pissy at work. Mars moves into your opposite sign of Aries on Monday and its adversarial position will put you at odds with just about everyone. Mars creates an irascible, combative energy, so you don’t want to add fuel to the fire. Work out pent-up frustration at the gym (that’s what it’s there for) and just accept that you can’t win for trying until after April 18.

SCORPIO (Oct. 22-Nov. 20)

You’ll find out last-minute that things are a go and that you will be expected to jam weeks of work into just a few days. Other zodiac signs would throw up their hands and yield the field, but not you. You come alive when the heat is on, so you will be riding a wave of adrenaline from March 11 to March 28. This is when you'll deliver beyond everyone’s expectations — including your own.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 21-Dec. 20)

You have to be excited about what you do for a living. If you’re not, then your enthusiasm will roll over like a lead balloon. This is why you have to choose jobs for their wow factor rather than for their paycheck. It’s not always easy to do — especially considering the economy, but in the next five weeks you will see how staying true to your aim in life leads to hitting the bull’s-eye.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 21-Jan. 18)

You will want to be wary of getting too attached to a business plan because you could see it change radically over the next few weeks. Your prospects run the gamut from a venture being shut down before it begins, to vaulting over the competition to a place at the head of the line. It’s anyone’s guess with so much game-changing planetary energy coursing through your horoscope so look alive!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 19-Feb. 17)

You will have to practice the patience of a saint on Tuesday and Wednesday. This is when a customer or client will become so frustrated over a transaction that she or he will wind up blaming you. It’s this person’s error, not yours, but that won’t be worth pointing out. Calmly walk this person through the steps that others have followed before without incident and things should come together nicely on Friday.

PISCES (Feb. 18-March 19)

You’ll be making the switch from minnow to shark when Mars enters your solar house of money on the 11th. It’s about time you showed competitors your teeth and that you’re not afraid to take a bite out of their market. But this will be based less on predatory behavior and more on your imagination, innovation, and ingenuity. Can you help it if they’re the last ones to realize that you’re a business genius?